North is to the
left in this image. The dark Nebula on the left is known as Barnard 75; The dark
nebula on the right is known as Barnard 262. What used to be considered a hole
in the sky is now known to astronomers as a dark molecular cloud. Here, a high
concentration of dust and molecular gas absorb practically all the visible light
emitted from background stars. The eerily dark surroundings help make the
interiors of molecular clouds some of the coldest and most isolated places in
the universe. Horizontal FOV is 55'